Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.138299
Element CodePDASTE8110
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderAsterales
FamilyAsteraceae
GenusSymphyotrichum
Other Common NamesLate Purple American-aster (EN) late purple aster (EN)
Concept ReferenceKartesz, J.T. 1999. A synonymized checklist and atlas with biological attributes for the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. First edition. In: Kartesz, J.T., and C.A. Meacham. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Taxonomic CommentsIn Kartesz's (1999) treatment, Symphyotrichum patens is mostly synonymous with Aster patens (as treated by Kartesz in his 1994 checklist) except that plants called Aster patens var. phlogifolius are now treated as a distinct species (Symphyotrichum plogifolium).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-08-20
Change Date1984-02-09
Edition Date2024-08-20
Edition AuthorsN. Ventrella (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank ReasonsSymphyotrichum patens is a perennial forb occurring in sandy, loamy, shaley, or clayey soils in dry, open woodlands, fields, roadsides, and disturbed areas of eastern North America from Maine south to Florida, west to Texas, and north to Kansas in the United States. There are an estimated 1,400 occurrences of this species, which are potentially threatened by development, rights-of-way maintenance, invasive species, and succession. Little is known about trends, but with a large range extent, a high number of occurrences, abundant habitat, broad habitat preferences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities, Symphyotrichum patens is considered secure.
Range Extent CommentsSymphyotrichum patens occurs in eastern North America from Maine south to Florida, west to Texas, and north to Kansas in the United States (FNA 2006). Range extent was estimated to be 2.7 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations collected between 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024). See individual entries for distribution details about the three varieties.
Occurrences CommentsBy applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024, it is estimated that there are over 1,400 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact CommentsAlthough threats are not widely documented, Symphyotrichum patens is potentially threatened by development, rights-of-way maintenance, invasive species, succession and other threats in some places. However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, tolerance of light disturbance, and affinity for typically abundant habitats, as well as no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.